Hallandale Invitational Recap

by Brandon BeJarano for DistancePreps.com

The stage was set for the Hallandale Invitational that combined perfect south Florida weather with athletes that were ready to compete and prepared to win. 17 teams attended Saturday’s 6th Annual Hallandale Invitational along with some standout performances from Hallandale’s Kimani Rushing and Miami Jackson’s Tyrone Thornton.

On the ladies side, sophomore Kimani Rushing stole the show, placing first in all three of her events, finishing with a new U.S. No. 1 time of 13.87 in the 100 meter hurdles, along with a U.S. No. 4 time of 42.80 in the 300 meter hurdles. Miami Southridge’s Dominique Bullock and Symone Mason both had good days sweeping the 100 and 200. Bullock placed first in the 200 with a time of 24.27 and Mason won the 100 running a 11.96 while also finishing second behind Bullock in the 200.

For the guys it was a tight race for the team title between Boyd Anderson and Miami Jackson, but in the end Boyd Anderson pulled away with the win with key victories from Phillip Lee in high jump and triple jump and Javon Patterson in the 800. “Being able to pull through with the win motivates the team in upcoming meets, hopefully the momentum can carryover to every track meet we go to,” Patterson said. “Though I didn’t run the time I was looking to get, I am still happy to contribute those points to the team’s win”.

Miami Jackson’s standout Tyrone Thornton capped off his final Hallandale Invitational with a first place finish in the 100, 200 and long jump. Thornton’s 100 time of 10.57 ranks him 5th in Florida.

Westminster Academy’s Andrew James won the 400 with a time of 48.72 while also running first leg on the 4x400 leading them to a third place finish. “I wasn’t disappointed about my performance in the four (400m) but I could have done better, it’s only the beginning of the season so I have plenty of time to improve, overall I am pleased where I stand at this point,” James said.

Young talent Daesha Rogers from Miami Jackson and Katie Pinnell from North Broward battled it out in the 1600. Rogers pulled away with the win running a 5:18.62. Rogers won the 800 and 1600 while Pinnell finished with a win in the 3200.

About Brandon BeJarano:

I've been running competitively since the 6th grade. My junior and senior year I have been apart of Westminster Academy's track team in Fort Lauderdale. In the summer of 2013, I competed in the World Youth Trials running in the 2k Steeplechase placing 3rd with a time of 6:24. Other running accomplishments were placing 12th in 1A Cross Country states, making it to states for the 800 and 1600 my junior year for 1A, and finishing 2nd in the 2k steeplechase at the Junior Olympics held in Humble, TX. I look to continue running in college while also working my to earn a degree in broadcasting and communications.